Fixture Pre-Season game in India

[DERO]

hotkorma

 

[Howard Moon]

hotkorma

Mildvindaloo

Am i doing it right?

 

[DERO]

THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET SPICY

 

[Burzum]

Are AFL clubs just going down the list of most populous countries with the hopes of hitting it big in one of them?

 

[Great8]

As long as it's not in Chennai, quite possibly the worst city I've ever been to

 

[Howard Moon]

Yeh there are some shockers , maybe try dharamshsla...least you get the epic Himalayan backdrop at that stadium and some psuedo altitude training while your at it

 

[Howard Moon]

Are AFL clubs just going down the list of most populous countries with the hopes of hitting it big in one of them?

Clearly playing to the fanatical sport loving Indian community here...

Have you heard them call Sen talking footy? I'll give them one thing, they have Passion!

 

[hotkorma]

Papadum idea

 

[hotkorma]

But srs great food I'm all for this

 

[Whispering_Jack]

Papadons

 

[Lore]

Looks to be mostly about engaging with the locals of Indian descent and selling memberships. The pre-season game in India is a maybe, they're also doing the Indian Themed AFL match which must be like the multicultural round thing we did with the dancers and Hindi commentary. Maybe even an Indian themed special guernsey... plus the more hands-on engagement with the multi-cultural academy and doing clinics and such.

We've been doing bits and pieces with India previously for the last few years so it's just an extension of that.

Dons embracing India
Essendon Football Club and Adelaide Football Club are in the process of forming a strategic partnership that will see both Clubs work together to grow the game of AFL in India.

The partnership will have two clear strategic objectives:

- Increase participation and engagement with the Indian community in Australia

- Grow and develop the game of AFL in India

The partnership will see both Clubs undertake and develop a range of joint-initiatives and opportunities over the next 3 years, including:

- Strategic Partnership Working Group

- Business and Commercial Partner Network

- AFL India Game Development Program

- Cultural Awareness Training

- Indian Themed AFL Match – 2017 Essendon v Adelaide Round 21

As part of the agreement, both Clubs are open to exploring the possibility of an exhibition game being played in India in the future.

Essendon CEO, Xavier Campbell, said the partnership is an exciting development in the Club’s long standing relationship with the Indian community.

“This is an exciting partnership for Essendon, and one which we feel can provide unique opportunities for both Clubs into the future,” Campbell said.

“It is a different way to look at growing the game, and we believe in working closely with Adelaide and the AFL that we best positions ourselves to make a significant impact.

“Our Embracing India strategy has been in place for the past five years and we have seen positive growth in the Indian community participating in our Auskick and community programs, attending our games and signing up as members. We believe the time is right to increase the scope and intensity of our commitment.

“Although our discussions with Adelaide have not been built on the prospect of playing home and away football abroad, there is the opportunity to consider the potential of an exhibition or pre-season game in India, and this is something we would consider in due course.

“We have had lengthy discussions with the Australian and Victorian Government about how we can increase participation and awareness of the game in India through the formation of strategic partnerships, as well as working to facilitate introductions with significant India businesses looking to invest further in Australia.

“Both Clubs are committed to improving the resources on the ground in India to develop and strengthen the local competition, have started exploring broadcasting games on Indian TV and are open to exploring the opportunity to host exhibition games in the years to come.”

Key facts about India;

- India is the world’s fastest growing economy, with forecast growth of 7.5% this year

- By 2030 India will be the world’s most populous country, overtaking China

- Australia is the second-most popular study destination for Indian students – 60,000 came to Australia to learn in 2016

- 500,000 Australian are of Indian descent

- There are most 10 year olds in India than there are Australians

- A recent PwC study projects that by 2050 India will have the second largest economy in the world

The Essendon Football Club has established the following programs and initiatives to grow the game among the Indian community both in Melbourne and India;

- Designated Indian AUSKICK program and partnership with Gurdwara Sikh Temple, Craigieburn.

- Globall Program which introduces new migrants and international students to Essendon games (more than 20,000 participants have undertaken this program so far).

- Multi-Cultural Schools Program conducted in NW region of Melbourne.

- Employment of Indian Community Officer, Sudip Chakraborty, recruited from Kolkata, India.

- Dedicated Embracing India themed Round since 2014.

- Sponsor and support the Indian team which will compete in the 2017 International Cup.

- 2017 Kevin Sheedy and EFC Officials attended AFL India National Championships in Kolkata.

- 2016 EFC Officials trip to India to meet with Star Sports.

- 2014 Players trip to India which visited multiple regions and conducted coaching clinics with AFL India.

- The Club is a proud supporter of the Bharat Bombers Team in the Unity Cup.

- A dedicated Indian Content Hub housed on the Club website which provides news and videos in Hindi.

- Press Red for Hindi – Indian Broadcast of EFC AFL match on Foxtel.

- Hindi and Punjabi commentary of games streamed on the Club website.

- Bombers in India Documentary Broadcast on Foxtel.

- Established local relationships with Indian media – SBS Hindi and Punjabi, Indian Sun

- Engaged local Indian business network, Indian Executive Club.

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2017-06-23/dons-embracing-india

 

[quotemokc]

Maybe India can adopt the game as a way to keep their cricketers fit?

India makes a lot of sense for reasons mentioned here but I also think they should promote it as the game originally created to keep cricketers fit over winter as it will get more attention. They will also have many appropriately sized ovals with stands.

Does it ever get cold in India?

 

[Lore]

Does it ever get cold in India?

Interesting question. Wikipedia says this:

The nation has four seasons: winter (December, January and February), summer (March, April and May), a monsoon rainy season (June to September), and a post-monsoon period (October to November).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_India#Seasons

It also says winter in the north-west averages top temperatures of 10-16º, which seems to be the coldest average day-time temperature there.

Learn something new every day.

We don't play footy in Darwin because 'monsoon season', but I wonder if that's a legitimate excuse.

edit to add: The seasons section of the page gives slightly different months, and the meteorological people have different ways of dividing seasons compared to the astrological seasons in the Hindi calendar... so I guess the dates are arguable.

It's interesting though because most of our home and away season is during their monsoon period, so a home and away game might need to be indoors, or early in the season when it might be hot or humid (not that that's on the cards at the moment). It'd much easier climate wise to play a game there in February/March.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Does it ever get cold in India?

The further north you go and closer to the Himalayas the colder it gets. Funnily enough around Delhi area can have more weather patterns similar to Melbourne. That is my understanding from limited exposure and talking to locals.

 

[sameolds33]

The further north you go and closer to the Himalayas the colder it gets. Funnily enough around Delhi area can have more weather patterns similar to Melbourne. That is my understanding from limited exposure and talking to locals.

Problem with Delhi is the pollution - worse than Shanghai, where it looked pretty bad during the Port/GCS game. Our pre-season corresponds with winter in north India so the best time of the year from a heat perspective. Would be interested to see what consideration is given to the pollution.

As to crowds, I've watched the last couple of seasons of the IHL in which the world's best hockey players play and the standard is really high. It's a fantastic competition and India has a strong hockey tradition too. Even so, the crowds look small...wonder what sort of numbers the AFL is expecting for this game.

EDIT: Chandigarh in the Punjab might be suitable - will be cold and perhaps less polluted than Delhi but easy to get there from Delhi by road or train. Also has a large Sikh community, just like Essendon.